William L. Odom CollectionLU.162
Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections
Janet D. Greenwood Library
401 Redford Street
Farmville, VA 23909
Business Number: 434-395-2433
ask@longwood.libanswers.com
URL:
https://libguides.longwood.edu/home/asc
Repository
Greenwood Library Archives and Special Collections
Identification
LU.162
Title
William L. Odom Collection 1967-1969
Quantity
.35 Linear Feet, 1 legal-sized half-Hollinger box
Creator
Odom, William.
Creator
Odom, Carol.
Creator
Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
Language
English
.
Restrictions on Access
There are no restrictions to access or use for research purposes.
Ownership and Custodial History
This collection of materials, originally compiled by Dr. William and Carol Odom, came to the Greenwood Library Archives, via
Susan Bagby, in summer 2000.
Dr. William L. Odom was born in December 1934 in Richmond, Virginia. He received his bachelor's degree from Hampden-Sydney
College before getting his master's degree (1959) and Ph.D. (1961) from University of Virginia. From 1961 to 1965, Dr. Odom
taught ancient Greek at Randolph-Macon College before joining the ancient languages faculty at Hampden-Sydney College. After
leaving Hampden-Sydney College in 1969, Dr. Odom spent six years at Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York, serving first as
vice president, then dean, and finally acting president. In 1975, he was inaugurated at the 29th president of Bethel College
in Tennessee. Dr. Odom retired from that position in 1991, then served as vice president of development of Habitat for Humanity
International form 1991 to 1994, and then as Salvation Army director of development from 1994 to 2000. During his time at
Hampden-Sydney College, Dr. Odom and his wife, Carol, were involved in the civil rights movement in Prince Edward County.
Specifically, when Hampden-Sydney College graduate, T. Burwell Robinson, Jr., was fired from his teaching position at Robert
Russa Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia under questionable circumstances, Dr. Odom and others in the community rallied
support for his cause. Accused of provoking unrest among his black students, Robinson's firing precipitated a second student
strike at the school, including a sit-in in the school's auditorium, a march through downtown Farmville, and an occupation
of the principal's office.
Included in this collection, which dates from 1967 to 1969, is correspondence, documents, newspaper and magazine clippings,
and photographs. The vast majority of these materials relate to the firing of Robert Russa Moton High School teacher T. Burwell
Robinson but also include information regarding the Odom's involvement in the Community Action Group Preschool Program and
the Prince Edward School Advisory Committee.
Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1953-1961.
Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1962-1969.
Public schools -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.
Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
School integration -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.
Segregation in Education -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.
Odom, Carol.
Odom, William.
Robinson Jr., T. Burwell.
Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1953-1961.
Prince Edward County (Va.) -- History -- 1962-1969.
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Hampden-Sydney Tiger, editorial by T. Burwell Robinson
1967-02-10
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
William Odom Correspondence
1968
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Dr. William L. Odom to Dr. Doswell
1968-02-21
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
W. Lester Banks to Dr. William L. Odom
1968-09-04
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
W. Lester Banks to W.T. Reveley (Dr. Odom cc'd)
1968-09-04
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Letters between T. Burwell Robinson and Superintendent Bryant H. Harper
1969-04-15-1969-05-24
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
T. Burwell Robinson to Boyd Bosma, National Education Association, Coordinator for Civil Liberties
1969-05-06
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Carol Odom from C.G. Gordon Moss
1969-05-19
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
William Odom Correspondence
1969
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Rev. L. Francis Griffin to Ray A. Moore (Dr. Odom cc'd)
1969-01-31
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
William L. Odom to Prince Edward School Advisory Committee
1969-03-07
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom
1969-03-09
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Rev. L. Francis Griffin to William L. Odom
1969-03-25
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
William L. Odom to School Patrons, Hampden District, Mercy Seat Church
1969-03-27
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Letters to the Editor of the Hampden-Sydney Tiger
1969-04-231969-05-07
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Prince Edward County School Advisory Committee, newsletter
1968-10-12
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Petitions to School Board
1968
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Response to Prince Edward County School Board, "Toward a Balanced Viewpoint" statement, undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Re: Community Action Group Preschool Program, undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Re: School Board and Electoral Board letter writing campaign, undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Newspaper Clippings
1968
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Article, Look Magazine, "The Lost Years… ,"
1966-11-29
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Washington Post, POTOMAC, "Back Where They Started."
1968-03-24
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "School Board Starts Actions on Alternate School Building Plan."
1968-07-17
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Richmond News Leader, "NAACP Seeks to Register 100,000 Negro Voters."
1968-09-03
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "School Patrons Select Education Advisory Group."
1968-09-27
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "Presidential Candidates."
1968-10-18
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Newspaper Clippings
1969
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Richmond Times Dispatch, "Tuition-Aid Case Heard By U.S. Court."
1969-01-24
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "Tuition Grant Case Under Review By Three Judge Court."
1969-01-24
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
unknown, "At Hearing – Poverty Agency Endorsed."
1969-01-31
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
unknown, "Segregation Assailed – Mississippi Grants to Schools Barred,"
1969-01-31
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Richmond Times Dispatch, "Darden Urges Virginia Plan for Funding Private Schools."
1969-02-22
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
unknown, "Virginia's Public Schools."
1969-02-26
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "Freedom and Quality."
1969-02-28
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "Another Union Election."
1969-03-14
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Afro-American, "10 Years Later – No Catching Up…"
1969-03-22
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Richmond Times Dispatch, "Board Fires Teacher at Moton."
1969-04-23
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Tiger (Hampden-Sydney), "Profs Support Robinson" and "Dr. Moss Comments."
1969-04-25
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Virginian-Pilot, "Light in the Dark – Farmville's Two Colleges."
1969-04-28
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Farmville Herald, "State to Name New Head."
1969-05-02
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Farmville Herald, "Reply to School Board Statement."
1969-05-14
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Virginian-Pilot, "Rehire Mr. Robinson – A Fresh Start in Farmville."
1969-05-15
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
The Virginian-Pilot, "Heart - - and Horse Sense."
1969-05-22
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Roanoke Times, "Dismissed Teach Called Scapegoat of Racial Problems in Prince Edward."
1969-05-22
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Farmville Herald, "States Rights Group Organize 4th District for Thurmond-Wright." (reprint)
1998-10-07
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Newspaper Clippings, Undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
unknown, "The Great Society." undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
unknown, "Classes for 5-Year Olds – Community Action Group Seeks Preschool Program Volunteers." undated
Text [1000522922] box: 01 of 01
Richmond Times-Dispatch, "Prince Edward Declines to Reappoint School Chief." undated
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.001
Unidentified African-American school children doing Biology project
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.002
Unidentified African-American school children and teachers at dinner table.
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.003
Mrs. Graves Thompson, music teacher.
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.004
Unidentified African-American school child painting.
1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.005
Unidentified African-American school child painting.
1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.006
School children seated around table.
1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.007
School children seated on floor with teachers.
1 Photographic Prints Color print 3.5"x3.5"
1967
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.008
Group of school children, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 7"x5"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.009
Group of school children, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 7"x5"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.010
Teacher and school children crouching on floor, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 4.75"x7"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.011
Teachers and school children playing game, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.012
Teachers and school children playing dancing, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.013
School children painting, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"
Still Image [1000522923] Binder: 15 LU-162.014
School children playing dress-up, undated
1 Photographic Prints Black and White print 5"x7"